10.01.2007

Mistakes happen

On Thursday NASA workers working on the next launch of the space shuttle Discovery, lifted the massive external fuel tank into place on the mobile launch platform for mating with its two solid rocket boosters.

However as workers were preparing to connect the slings the crane moved unexpectedly before the slingers were ready causing the heavy slings to crash into the tank, damaging its foam covering. Each sling is normally held clear by a slinger on the end of a guide rope. On this occasion the slingers were not ready and in place.
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The Space shuttle on its mobile launcher, the big brown cylinder is the external tank

It just goes to show that even applications where everything is planed and tested to the last detail, mistakes happen when it comes to lifting.

A NASA employee said “it is a shame to have molested a pristine tank."